Update & The Liebster Award

So I think we can all agree on the fact that I'm not great at new years resolutions. It is currently the 23rd of February and this is my first post since new years day. Although clearly ignoring the fact I said I wanted to post on my blog regularly I thought I'd just have a look back at that post and see how much I'd managed to stick to my resolutions. So, here we go. 

1. Get More Sleep
As I'm writing this it is 1:30pm and I have been awake for roughly 22 hours. You do the math and tell me whether I've managed to get more sleep or get into a proper routine.

2. Take More Photos
You guessed it; another fail. At a guess I'd say I've probably taken around 10 photos (not including photos for schoolwork) this year, so far. 

3. Be Happy
Okay, this is one resolution that hasn't been a complete disaster, and I guess all of my failed resolutions somehow contribute to this one not failing. I've tried to put less pressure on myself this year, which therefore meant that I took a break from blogging and photography and constantly trying to plan every second of my life. It was my birthday earlier this month and I just spent the weekend relaxing and having fun with friends. Although this might not be such a great thing I've also stressed myself out less over schoolwork. So, in conclusion, I don't think I'll be making any more resolutions. I think my final resolution is to just get on with life without setting all these different tasks that I have to have done by a certain time. That may work for some people but I've recently realised that it doesn't work for me.

However, I do have big plans for my blog. As I've only been doing this a short time I really just want to get used to it all, but I do have a few ideas up my sleeve.

Something that also made me happy as I logged into my blog this morning, for the first time in over a month, was seeing that I had been 'nominated for the Liebster Award' by the lovely Erin Burggraff. I don't know much about the whole thing so make sure you go here to read Erin's post as she seems to know a lot more about it than I do. But here are the rules:

'Mention the person who nominated you with a link to their blog.

Answer the 11 questions provided by the person who nominated you.

Nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers.

Create a new set of 11 questions for your nominees to answer'

and here we go.

Erin's Questions:

Q - What is your favorite thing about winter?
A - I'm going to go with a pretty common answer to this question, and say Christmas, as it's definitely my favourite time of year.

Q - Do you prefer coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
A - Coffee. No Contest.

Q - What is the most romantic/sweetest valentine card/gift/date/etc. you ever received?
A - Okay, cards on the table, I'm going to be honest and say I've never had a valentine.. awkward.

Q - What is the best advice you have ever been given?
A - Sorry for not having anything terribly unique and inspiring, but it has to be 'do whatever makes you happy'.

 Q - What was your most embarassing outfit of all time? (If you want to have fun with it, include a picture!)
A - Up until the age of about 12 I couldn't care less about what I looked like, but there is an outfit that really stands out. I remember my mum bought me a puke green coloured tracksuit. Oh dear, just thinking about it.. (Unfortunately, no picture exists of this outfit)

Q - If you were stranded on an island and could only have three beauty items with you, what would they be?
A - Okay, I'm assuming there are other people on this island? Otherwise I doubt I'd bother, but I'd probably say a razor (does that count as a beauty item??), mascara and lipbalm.

Q - What is the best song you've listened to recently?
A - This is a pretty hard question for me, because if you know me I am obsessed with music, but I'd say my most played songs (I know it says one song but my brain just can't manage that sorry) over the last week are probably 'Panic! at the Disco - Collar Full', 'Full Circle - Half Moon Run', 'Pretty Hurts - Beyonce', 'Riptide - Vance Joy', 'Say Something - A Great Big World', A Song About Love - Jake Bugg', 'Take What I Can Get - Matthew Mayfield' and 'XO - Beyonce'.

Q - How would you describe your personal style?
A - This is definitely something I've always thought about as I like quite a wide range of styles, but I've never really put a label on it. However, I would say that, dressing down, I prefer 'skater' or '90s grunge' type styles, but dressing up, I like classic, girly chic.

Q - What type of scent (Sweet, fruity, clean, woodsy, etc.) do you prefer? And which perfume is your favorite right now?
A - I'm a sucker for a fruity/vanilla scent, but my favourite perfume at the moment has to be 'Viktor & Rolf - Flowerbomb'

Q - What is your favorite holiday?
A - I've never left England, so does Centre Parcs count? 

Q - If you had $1000 and could only spend it in one store, where would you go?
A - I'm going to pretend that question says £1000, and say definitely Topshop.

My Questions:

1. If you had to chose between them, would you say you were a book or a film kinda girl?

2. What was the first album/single you ever bought?

3. How long does it take you to get ready in an average morning?

4. Which do you take most care of/spend more time on, your hair, your body or your face?

5. What's one thing you've always wanted to do, but never had the guts to actually do?

6. What's your favourite meal and can you make it yourself, or is it only good made by someone else?

7. Your favourite place in the world?

8. Your favourite childhood toy?

9. The first purple object you see near you?

10. Your dream job?

11. Your inspiration to start a blog?

My Nominations:

art-fashion-blog.blogspot.se

artsychicksrule.com

beautyandthebakerblog.blogspot.com

bonniebeautyxo.com

http://www.calijae.com/

fashion-twenty-four.blogspot.pt

imitationisthegreatestformofflattery.blogspot.com/

kellysklosetblog.com

majestyled.blogspot.com

paigeeone.blogspot.com

viintagerose.blogspot.ie

-Lilly x

New Years Resolutions

So, I'm sitting here, on my laptop writing this, on New Years Eve. Unfortunately, I did a sensible thing and chose to take a babysitting job and earn some money instead of going out with my friends. However that got cancelled last minute, and I'm now sitting by myself watching one of my favourite movies (The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe).
Anyway, it's been an alright evening. I watched a film with the family, watched the fireworks. It was a nice relaxed night in. I'll appreciate it in the morning anyway.
So I've just been thinking, and I've jotted down a few of my New Years Resolutions:


1. Get More Sleep
It's a well known fact that sleep is vital to a healthy lifestyle and if you know me personally, it will also be a well known fact that I do not sleep (well, at night anyway). I always say how much I love to sleep, but when it comes to actually getting into bed I find a million things to get distracted by, although I do enjoy a long lie-in and a good nap . I also find it really hard to wake up in the mornings and it's starting to cause a few problems. So at the moment I get around 4-5 hours sleep (when I have to be up the next morning), and my goal for 2014 is to get 7 and half hours a night, (half because of the 90 minute cycle thingy and you're supposed to get around 8 hours) so wish me luck!

2. Take More Photos
This is kind of  a 'redo' of one of my resolutions from last year. I did manage to take more photos this year, but I think my goal was really more to do with taking pictures of friends and family, days out, holidays, things like that and to be honest that didn't really happen. It's difficult when everyone around me hates having their photo taken, and I don't blame them because at the moment I'm the same, but I'm trying to change that.

3. Be Happier
I guess this is quite a vague one, but I want 2014 to be a great year. That means me being happier, more positive and just enjoying things again. I'm going to stop dwelling on the past and the negative parts of life, start taking chances and just take every opportunity to do new, exciting things and live life.

Something I also want to do this year is try harder with my blog, and my goal is to make at least 2 posts a week.

I hope your year is as fabulous as I'm going to make sure mine is,


-Lilly x

Overplayed Songs of 2013

10. 'Let Her Go' - Passenger

9. 'I Knew You Were Trouble' - Taylor Swift

8. 'I Love It' - Icona Pop

7. 'Roar' - Katy Perry

6. 'We Can't Stop' - Miley Cyrus

5. 'La La La' - Naughty Boy feat. Sam Smith

4. 'Royals' - Lorde

3. 'Wrecking Ball' - Miley Cyrus

2. 'Get Lucky' - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams

1. 'Blurred Lines' - Robin Thicke feat. T.I & Pharrell


(For the record, I actually like most of these songs; this is just my opinion of the songs I think were maybe played a little too often throughout 2013!)


-Lilly x

My Opinions: The Tangle Teezer [Review]

I've wanted to get myself a Tangle Teezer for a while now, but never really got round to it. I was definitely expecting great things after all the hype it's got, especially from other beauty bloggers and vloggers, and I have to say it has definitely lived up to expectations.

I'd say the only downside is the fact that, as the bristles are so short and I have a lot of very thick hair, if I have an especially big knot in my hair, it is tricky to get all the way through on the first try. This means that you do have to spend a little bit of time going through your hair and you definitely have to take your time and brush the underneath of your hair separately. In other words this isn't some magic tool that automatically removes tangles. However, it is the best thing I've ever brushed my hair with.

As my hair is so thick, and I do have quite a lot of it, it gets really tangley, but brushing out tangles with a Tangle Teezer is a lot less difficult (and painful) than dragging an ordinary hairbrush through it. As you can see I bought the purple Tangle Teezer, (although I kind of wish I'd got the pink one or the orange one) and I love the design. I also really like the way the brush is moulded to fit comfortably in your hand.

So to sum up, if you're wondering whether it's worth spending £11 (from Boots: http://www.boots.com/en/Tangle-Teezer-Purple-Glitter_1189454/) on a hairbrush, I'd definitely say it is, and despite a few 'is that a horse hairbrush?' comments I've had quite a few compliments on how my hair looks after I've used my Tangle Teezer. Even if you're hair doesn't get particularly tangley I'd say the Tangle Teezer would work great as an ordinary hairbrush anyway, and would probably get the job done a lot quicker.


-Lilly x

My Christmas Playlist

10.

'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' - Brenda Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnIqLlBwzrc

'Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree' - Mel & Kim
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdnaPAJgAQI


9. 

'Last Christmas' - Wham!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8gmARGvPlI


8. 
'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' - Jackson 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCEZEOYdfwo

7. 

'Baby, It's Cold Outside' - Carmen McRae & Sammy Davis Jr.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tu0l54D2DLU

'Baby, It's Cold Outside' - Zoeey Deschanel & Leon Redbone
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjYUzpdKMZs


6. 

'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas' - Judy Garland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5g4lY8Y3eoo


5.

'All I Want for Christmas is You' - Mariah Carey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXQViqx6GMY


4. 

'Merry Christmas Everyone' - Shakin' Stevens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeyHl1tQeaQ


3. 

'Merry Christmas Everybody' // Slade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcb9u5fDpMA


2. 

'I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday' - Wizzard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoxQ4Ul_DME

1. 

'Fairytale of New York' - The Pogues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9jbdgZidu8







-Lilly x

Avoiding Temptation Over the Holidays

The trees are up, the lights are twinkling and Christmas is coming up fast (12 days to go!) so I've put together a few tips for those of you who are watching their weight and don't want to fall off the wagon, but still want to enjoy yourselves this Christmas!

1. Don't Do Your Groceries On an Empty Stomach-
It's a well-known diet tip, but it's especially important when there's lots of chocolate and Christmas treats on the shelves and tons of offers being shoved at you everywhere you look.

2. Avoid Receiving Edible Gifts-
If you know there's a friend or relative who always buys you chocolate at Christmas, just let them know you'd rather have something else this year, or maybe just leave a few hints that you're trying to stay away from the sugary stuff at the moment.

3. Stock Up on a Few of the Healthier Options-
If your boyfriend, mum, dad, roommate or whoever, comes home with a big tin of chocolates and a box of mince pies, you know you'll feel better when you remember that bag of dried fruit and nuts you've got in the back of the cupboard. Or if you're feeling adventurous, some organic, dark chocolate. Okay, it might not seem that tempting, but you know it'll feel good when everyone else is complaining about how sick they feel!

4. Keep Moving
Sticking to your fitness routine during the holidays can be difficult, and you know that once you miss a few days, it's hard to start it up again. But keeping active will mean you won't feel so guilty when you do give in, and will keep you more motivated not to give in in the first place.

5. Buy An Advent Calendar-
Ok, this tip's probably a bit late, seen as, if you have an advent calendar you'll have already eaten half of it, and if you didn't get one.. well it's a bit late to start now! But I think an advent calender is a great tip. That small piece of chocolate every day might be just what you need to diminish any cravings and help you to resist other temptations. Also, if you don't trust yourself with a chocolate advent calendar but feel a bit left out when everyone else in the house opens theirs, then opt for a beauty/makeup related calendar so you can join in the fun.

4. Don't Forget, You are Human and It's Ok to Make a Mistake or Two-
Giving in to a chocolate or two, or accidentally having a few glasses of wine at a Christmas party isn't the end of the world. It won't kill you so just remember it's ok, you're only human. Maybe just do an extra 10 minutes of cardio the next day!

5. And Don't Forget, It Is Christmas!-
If you've managed to control yourself in the days leading up to Christmas, then maybe forget about the diet for a few hours on Christmas day. As long as you don't go overboard, then you'll be fine. Give in to a few roast potatoes and a piece of Christmas pudding, just remember to pile lots of veggies on to your plate too. And finally, just relax; after all it is Christmas!


-Lilly x

My Opinions: Miley Cyrus

Straight away I'm going to say, I love Miley Cyrus; so this won't be a post about how much she's screwing up her life and she needs to sort herself out.

I've always been a fan of Miley, ever since her Hannah Montana days. However, that doesn't mean that now she's an adult and she's doing what SHE wants, that I'm going to go out and copy everything she does (especially not the eyebrows which are now thankfully back).

If Miley wasn't Miley, and she wasn't in the spotlight 24/7, she would likely be seen as an average 21 year old, (happy birthday to her for the 23rd) and in my opinion people really need to back off her a bit, seen as that's probably more likely to make her continue the way she is anyway. But just let her have fun and get it out of her system, or if she's 'found herself' and realises that this is who she is, then just let her be!

And as much as I love Miley's short hair, I just saw these pictures -

and they just reminded me how much I loved her long hair :(

Also, if people took the time out to watch an interview or two, and not just read what they read in the papers and on Twitter they might understand what she's all about. I recently watched Miley on Ellen, (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcPUFZlnTOc) and it's a great example of her explaining what's been going on with her. She also talks about her album (which is amaaaazing), how the 'tongue thing' came about and how the story of her relationship with Liam is displayed throughout it.

People seem to forget too, that Miley is so talented and has an amazing voice. She was in Radio 1's Live Lounge a few weeks back, covering Lana Del Rey's 'Summertime Sadness', (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93CZ6oFR8Q0) and she proved that she CAN just sit down, and let people listen to her voice, without all the drama (and wearing slightly more clothes than usual).

-Lilly x